THE SPIRIT LIVES!
Mural to Commemorate the Massacre of Students at Kent and Jackson State, May 4 & 14, 1970
On May 4, 1970, the National Guard opened fire on a peaceful anti-war protest at Kent State University in Ohio. The attack left four dead and nine wounded. Students had gathered in response to President Richard Nixon’s announcement that the US had invaded Cambodia – a major escalation of the war in Southeast Asia.
The massacre at Kent was followed ten days later with the police barrage of bullets into a dormitory at Jackson State in Mississippi that left two students dead and an unknown number of others wounded.
The shootings at Kent and Jackson, along with deep hatred of the war, sparked a national student strike that was to become the largest political demonstration in U.S. history. Tens of thousands of students occupied their universities and used the facilities to reach out with their anti-war message. The strike played a crucial role in in the movement that eventually forced an end to the war.
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From May 4 - 14, CCSU Profs Mike Alewitz & Jerry Butler will paint a 40’ commemorative mural on the mall of Central Connecticut State University
We invite you to JOIN US on site for painting,
music, theater and activism.
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JERRY BUTLER is a renowned art educator, public artist and muralist. He was a participant in the events at Jackson State.
MIKE ALEWITZ was a student leader at Kent State and an eyewitness to the murders.
He is an agitprop muralist working in the US and internationally.
Among the visiting guests will be:
GENE YOUNG - Longtime civil rights activist and student leader at Jackson State
TOM GRACE - Labor activist and historian, wounded at Kent State
Sponsored by the Department of Art, Peace Studies, Art Club & Student Affairs
(Additional sponsorship welcome)
More Info: butlerjee@ccsu.edu / alewitz@comcast.net
Download flyer: http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddrcgb43_295f9t5gddd
Kent & Jackson Massacre Wall Blog: http://kentmassacre.wordpress.com/
Event is free and open to the public. Campus map and directions: www.ccsu.edu/visit
